Hi folks, new to the forum but have been metal bodging for a few years...
I have had the long term loan of a mates Atlas 10F 42" lathe with vertical countershaft. Sadly he died this year so I now have the option to buy it. It "cost a lot of money" but nobody knows what my mate paid for it - which was probably 20 years ago. I have made a few things on it as it came - I haven't serviced it or anything other than a clean up & oil. I did re-shape the non-original tool post (by hand) as it was so badly worn.
The lathe runs but:
1. The 3 jaw chuck has been jammed on since before it was lent to me & possibly before my mate bought it. I gave up trying to remove it (I'm no expert in this area but recently found another method which I will try - from the practical machinist.com site) I think it is worn - with a drill chuck in the tailstock it's not possible to drill accurately - it's very slightly off centre - tailstock could well be worn also.
2. The carriage saddle / compound rest is horrible - slack in it's travel - I managed to adjust it enough for basic use but movement is sloppy. The dials are loose. I wouldn't trust using the lead screw for thread cutting etc but I have machined stuff, just about, using it like a woodwork lathe!
On the positive side; It's on a really heavy (like 100cwt!) steel & wood cabinet stand with 3 drawers & a cupboard, it is the timken bearing type, the motor is good, there are a good few collets & a collet bar I think. Some change wheels, a faceplate, a bunch of random cutters, tailstock chuck. I think the bed is ok, but it needs a proper engineer to check it. There may be other odds & sods in the drawers but I've never used them & there's a pile of stuff in the way of getting to them at the mo'
If possible will upload some pics later.
Should I buy it? Any thoughts appreciated.
I have had the long term loan of a mates Atlas 10F 42" lathe with vertical countershaft. Sadly he died this year so I now have the option to buy it. It "cost a lot of money" but nobody knows what my mate paid for it - which was probably 20 years ago. I have made a few things on it as it came - I haven't serviced it or anything other than a clean up & oil. I did re-shape the non-original tool post (by hand) as it was so badly worn.
The lathe runs but:
1. The 3 jaw chuck has been jammed on since before it was lent to me & possibly before my mate bought it. I gave up trying to remove it (I'm no expert in this area but recently found another method which I will try - from the practical machinist.com site) I think it is worn - with a drill chuck in the tailstock it's not possible to drill accurately - it's very slightly off centre - tailstock could well be worn also.
2. The carriage saddle / compound rest is horrible - slack in it's travel - I managed to adjust it enough for basic use but movement is sloppy. The dials are loose. I wouldn't trust using the lead screw for thread cutting etc but I have machined stuff, just about, using it like a woodwork lathe!
On the positive side; It's on a really heavy (like 100cwt!) steel & wood cabinet stand with 3 drawers & a cupboard, it is the timken bearing type, the motor is good, there are a good few collets & a collet bar I think. Some change wheels, a faceplate, a bunch of random cutters, tailstock chuck. I think the bed is ok, but it needs a proper engineer to check it. There may be other odds & sods in the drawers but I've never used them & there's a pile of stuff in the way of getting to them at the mo'
If possible will upload some pics later.
Should I buy it? Any thoughts appreciated.